davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

once attached to this body with the rank of sec
ond lieutenant. He was really one of the most
brilliant officers of the government. When
ever quick accurate observation and scien-
titic information were demanded, he was put
forward. At one time he was n government
exploring engineer in Washington and Oregon
territories Again, he was one of three United
States officers sent to the Crimea in '55 to
study and report on the art of war in Europe.
At this time he was Capt. Mcclellan and one
of the youngest men who ever attained that
rank in the country.
In 1851 he resigned from the army and went
into railroad building and engineering. When
the war broke out in 1861 he was president of
the eastern division of the Ohio and Mississippi
railroad, and lived in Cincinnati Knowing
him skilled in military matters, the
Ohio people had him Immediately placed
at the head of the volunteer service of that
state May II, 1861, he was made a major
general in the United States army, and
assigned to command the department of the
Ohio
Shortly afterward took place his campaign
in West Virginia. He did brilliant service
there, service which resulted in keeping West
Virginia to the Union.
Then it was that he was called to Washing
ton, and placed over the army of the Potomac
The G. A. R. "boys" of to-day will shake
their gray heads and smile sadly as they
recall that time when Mcclellan went to
Washington. According to our American
fashion, newspapers and people went wild
with enthusiasm over him. He was only "a
years old, handsome and dashng. He looked
the perfect soldier. People called him the
"Young Napoleon" and hailed him as the
country's deliverer. All through McClelan's
letters to his wife are mentioned the ovations
he received as he passed through to Wash
ington, and even before that After his
success in West Virginia he writes to Mrs
Mcclellan:
"Well, it is proud and glorious thing to
BEE a whole people here, simple and unsophis-
ticated, looking up to me as their deliverer
from tyranny"
Again:
II had very complimentary dispatch
from Gen. Scott last night. He said he was
charmed with my energy, movements and
success Pretty well for the old man."
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
AT WASHINGTON.

Placed in command of the army of the
Potomac headquarters at Washington, Nc
Clellan Immediately proceeded to restore the
troops to prime fighting condition after the
disaster of Bull Run Any of the peoples of
Europe could not have believed that we were
as ignorant of all pertaining to war as we
were when Mcclellan took command at
Washington. Gen. Barnard, his chief of en-
gineers, tells how their corps h I'd to con-
tend with the want of special engineer
service. There was no properly organized
train for conveying sappers' and miners i'm
plements, intrenchng tools and bridge build
ing appurtenances, etc. Axes were given to
the soldiers to carry for use in chopping down
trees, building roads, etc. The soldier carried
it till he got tired and then threw it away.
Next camp he got new one, and so on.
The transportation of even the pontoon equi-
page fell on the already overburdened quar-
termaster's department during the heavy
campaigning of the Peninsula.
Mcclellan set Immediately about building
an army from the stragglers of Bull Run and
from the recruits that poured in at the second
call. The result of his labors was in time the
splendid army of the Potomac. In the judg-
ment of various good authorities Mcclellan
was the best organizer and equipper of an army
either side had during the war. In his
memoirs Mcclellan writes of this time of
preparation:
~ passed long days in the saddle and my
nights in the otfice-a very fatiguing life, but
one which made my power felt everywhere
and by every one"
He felt elated, too, by his call to Washing
ton. He writes at that time: president,
cabinet and Gen. Scott all deferring to me.
By some strange operation of magic | seem
to have become the power of the land"
Mcclellan paid particular attention to the
defenses of Washington, and in course of
time made it well fortified city. After the
battle of Bull Run the ConfederatcS were adj
vanced dangerously near to Washington.
Centreville, little town in Virginia only
twenty miles southwest of Washington, was
regarded as the key to the capital. After Bull
Run even that was abandoned, and all the
Union army went troopinS pellmell into
Washington. The Confederate forces under
Beauregard Immediately occupied it, In
deed, Gen. Joseph e. Johnston afterward adj
vanced the Confederate lines even to Mum
sons Hill, in an air line only six miles from
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Casey was pressed backward to Fair Oaks
station with re-enforcements that had been
sent him by Reyes. There was deadly fight
ing around Fair Oaks. At the same time
there was desperate contest about Seven
Pines, and Peck's brigade of Federal troops
was forced back Confederates swarmed in
in on the Union right, left and center.
COUGHS left was turned and his division cut
in two, and Kearney, who had endeavored to
save the left was driven back.
Gen. Sumner alone saved the part of the
army south of the Chckahominy from ami
hilaton. He had ordered bridge built on
his front across the Chickahominy several
days before. This was the famous Grape
vine bridge. There were only two bridges
besides this by which the Federal troops
might cross the Chickahominy. These were
Bottoms bridge and the railway bridge.
At 2:30 o'clock Mcclellan ordered Sumner
to cross the river to the aid OF Keyes and
Heintzeman. The fact that the Grapevine
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Gen. Johnston was GEN. G. w. SMITH.
seriously wounded, and the command
devolved on Gustavus w. Smith. He
also was wounded but even that did not stop
the fight. About dark, Sumner ordered a
bayonet charge of five regiments, which broke
the Confederate line, and the fight was ended
for May 81.
Richardson's brigade and the artillery had
been mred in the mud, but they came up
during the night. Next morning, juno !, at
8 O'Clock, the Confederates made another at
tack. Richardson commanded on the Fed
eral side and was on the lookout. There
was an indecisive fight of several hours Gen
.. o. Howard lost his arm here, and Gen.
Thomas f. Meagher, the patriot, fought
valiantly with his Irish brigade On the
Confederate side Gems. Roger A. Pryor and
Malone, afterward United States senator
from Virginia, commanded the Confederates.
Gen. Lee and President jefferson Davis rode
out in carriage to see the fight from Rich
mond of May 81.
June l the Confederate army, with its
stores and ammunition, was being removed to
Richmond all day. Toward evening the Con-
lederates under Pryor went there too. That
was the last of the Fair Oaks fighting Each
side lost some 1000. 1t was bloody fight.
In the morning Of June 2 Hooker made
reconnaissance toward Richmond lie APP
preached it wi.hin four miles and reported
that only a few pichcis could hr seen. 1t
seemed a good time to march ON Richmond,
but the commander in chef ordered Hooker
back and began anew around Fair Oaks the
throwing up Of earthwork intrenchmsuts.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

between the general and Washington. Nc
Clellan demanded always more troops, and
the president and his cabinet refused to let
Washington be denuded. McDowell's corps,
which had remained at Washington, was to
follow and join the army of the Potomac.
But the president did not consider that Gen
Mcclellan had kept his agreement to leave
Washington sufficiently protected, and re-
fused to allow Mcdowell to move This
added to McClellans irritation and mac
ton.
For quite six days Mcclellan had lain on
the Warwick with a force several times
larger than his enemy. After that it was too
late to force the Confederate line April 10
Gen. d. H. Hill arrived with re-enforcements
to the Confederates, and April II Gen Joseph
+. Johnston himself came and took command
in place of Magruder
April 10 Mcclellan writes that if Franklin's
and McCall's divisions of McDowell's corps
could be sent him that be would at once at
tack Gloucester Point, opposite Yorktown,
take it and storm Yorktown from the rear
and in front by land. Franklins division
was sent tardily and did not arrive at York
town until April 20. "a few days" after tina :.
Mcclellan made a reconnaissance of Glouces
ter Point.
Plenty of time was taken for preparation,
1t was going to be "A siege OH magnificent
plao. Scaling ladders were made, and by
the Sd of May everything was "nearly :"
ready.
May came, and lol the Confederates
had evacuated Yorktown. The scientific
siege of Yorktown had come to naught The
Confederates had delayed the Federal army
month in the swamp trenches along the War
wick line. This gave the Confedelates time
to recruit, organize and drill re-enfcrcements
till formidable army was got together.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
TIE PENINSULA.
From Fortress Monroe to Fair
Oaks battle-ground.
Gh--!'. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN.
The People Hailed Him as the "Yourg
Napoleon"

A State of Chronic Nervousness A 1t the
Safety of Washington Prevented Nc
Clellan from Being Supported as lie
Wished-The Second Siege of York
town-Working Slowly and Painfully
Up the Peninsula Toward Richmond-
In the Swamps-The Cbickahominy.
During the winter oflSG2 London Punch re-
marked that the American civil war was the
civilest it ever heard of.
In the summer of 1861 the north had been
crying for a leader. Popular demand was
satisfied by the appointment of Maj. Gen
George Brinton Mcclellan to be commander
In chief, first of the army of the Potomac,
then of the armies of the whole United States.
The first promotion came July %, tie second
Nov. !, 1861.
1t was not till the next spring, 1862 how
ever, that any fighting was done by the army
of the Potomac. The quarter centennial time
of that fighting has come. 1t finds most of
the leaders on both sides gone from the scene
of all earthly strife.
Mcclellan was not only a West Pointer, but
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
THE WAR IN VIRGINIA.

Turn now to your map, run your finger
down the Chesapeake bay, and stop at that
portion of Virginia between the James and
the York rivers, Run your eye up that, and
you will see that it is a long tongue of land
formed by those two rivers, and lying north
west and southeast That is 'the Peninsula"
and there is where McClellan's battles were
fought. Well up toward the upper end lies
Richmond, the objective point of the army of
the Potomac. Slightly to the north of Rich
mond you will notice long, crooked little
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

river, which flows
to the southeast,
tn en- sud denly
takes a sharp turn
to the south and
empties into the
James. That is the
Chic a h o m II y,
where much fight
ing was done, but
where fevers and
malaria carried off
more men than all
the fighting in Vir-
ginia. Within its
pois on breeding
sw a nDs lie the
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

naval vessels in his
campaign toward
Richmond. Z h ,
first plan was "a
combined land and
naval attack upon
Yorktown up the
York river from
Fortress Monroe.
But the navy could
not cooperate" as
the general under
stood it should, and
Gen. Webb, in his
"Peninsula G. a m
paign," puts that
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

break, but his chief
forbade it. Smith
felt sure the at
tempt would have
been successful, for
his men were in
fighting mood. He
declared the few
Vermont boys per
formed more indi-
vidual acts of he
roism than any 9th
er troops he had
heard of.
There was con-
tinual bic kering
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

bridge was already
built saved the day,
what there was left
of it. Su III II e +
crossed in haste
with Sedgwick's
and Richardson's
divisions and took
command. Line of
battle was formed
by Gen. Sedgwick
anew in the woods
near Fair Oaks,
and the battle ragged
even hotter than
before. Confederate
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
March the Confederate army evacuated |
Centreville. II had lain. with 10000 mon. |

twenty miles from
Washington oppos-
ed to an army three
times as large for
months.
March 3 Gen.
Joseph Il. Johnston
detected indica-
tions of unusual
activity in a part
of the Federal
camp" S Witt y
and silently there
upon he moved to
the south bank of
the Rappahannock,
md aftnr thntthpre
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Confederate army
concentrated after
Bull Run. Beau
regard commanded
it up TO the end of
January, 1862.
Then no was sent
west, and Joseph E.
Johnston became
general in chief of
the Con f cderate
army of the east.
Mcclellan called
for more and moi Q
recruits for h is
arm y. President
I fI 4 l. -
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Gen. Mcclellan rode from Yorktown to
Williamsburg, fourteen miles, upon his favor
lite war horse, Dan Webster. The generals
aides called him "DevU Dan" and he could
trot a steady gait all day. Mcclellan never
parted with the faithful beast, but kept him
till Dan died. in 1879.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

had seen actual SER
vice in the Mexican
war. He was born
in Philadelphia in
1926. He was grad
uated from West
Point before he was
20 years old. The
most prom sin &
graduates of West
Point are immedi-
ately assigned to
the engineer corps.
1t is the crack
corps of the regu-
lar army. Young
Mcclellan was at
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
FAIR OAKS STATION.

The Confederate army retreated to Williams
burg, eleven miles further up the Peninsula.
Here the third line of the Confederate fortifi.
cations crossed the Peninsula. Johnston's re-
treat was accomplished the night of May 3.
1t was before Yorktown that captive war bal
looms began to be used.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
Washington.

Washington. For weeks the Confederate
flag hoated on Munson's Hill in plain sight Of
the marble dome of the Capitol
Centrevillc and Manassas, both far too close
to Washington, were tho points Mt which the
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

TO Fredericksburg was not cut Lacking
thnt," wrote Lincoln to Mcclellan, "the scrap
of the Virginia Central from Richmond u
Hanover junction is simply nothing
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
The Tilden Library.

The New York Critic says Of ex-Goy.
Tilden's bequest to the city Of New
York: The exact amount of money
which the trustees Of the Tilden Library
will have under their control is not yet
known, but it is not likely to fall short
Of $4,000. 900, and may largely exceed
that sum. Few persons not specially
informed in such matters can form any
conception Of what can be done with
the income from such an estate toward
the foundation of library. Its wise
expenditure would ensure the building
up in few years of an institution
superior in equipment and facilities to
any one now existing In America. and
destined within the lives of living men
to rival the British Museum and the
Bibliotheque National The Critic
further says: 1T is to be hoped that
Mr.. Tilden's house on Gramercy park,
which is associated in the public mind
with the most interesting years Of the
statesman's public life, may continue
to be identified with his name.
1t is fine building, twice as wide as
the ordinary city house, and could
readily be enlarged so as to accommo-
date between 100000 and 100000
volumes. 1t already contains the nu-
cleus of the projected library in the
valuable collection Of books formed by
Mr. Tilden himself. Taking this Us a
central storehouse and reading rooms
and adding few branch building.
with reading rooms in other parts Of
the city, it would extend the free de-
livery system into every nook and
Granny Of New York
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
GOLD AND SILVER.

Along her fathers field they stsayed.
All hecked with cowslips yellow.
A little dainty gold-ha.red maid,
A sturdy ntne-year fellow.
And there loves course they two began
tab. thorny path for tseading!D
And vowed when they were maid and man
The town should see ! wedding.
Their golden curls blown and blent.
Through VISITS Of fragrance treading:
And o." they murmnfed. we'll content,
twill be golden wedding
..Tis time. .said he ITO c!sim her VOW
AID fotih he went and found her:
But she wss grown beauty now.
And half the town was round her.
81 see." Gays Re. lyon don't want me-
Though tears were ripe for shedding.
I'm glad yonr yes are coed. .sayf she
All, wbere'- that golden wedding?
He dung away end left her there.
Such heari-sore tear drops shedding.
And gossip Grid 10 blank despair,
Hes spoiIed the rarcst wedding
lie sailed the se a.. he beat the French.
Two seors good years be tarried.
And then he thought, '.Thst little wench--
wonder II pLe'e married.
Next week b.nff old tsr rolled past.
The gabed II gh street treadifg.
And ancient gossips crowed ..At last
We're ike 10 have the ~e ddirg.
She'd waited for him forty years
The gray their locks we're threading:
And some with smiles aCd seine with tears
Bsheld their eilver wedding.
Good Words.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
WITTY and Wlse.

They have been having series Of
dancing parties in the staid old town
Of Amherst, N. H., concerning which
correspondent writing to the Nashua
Telegraph, says: These dances have
been kept upon as purely moral basis
as practicable" We should like to
know about how much morality il
practicable" at a dance in Amherst.
Lowell Courier.
No doubt this Is a wise remark
Polish Is not piety. refinement j. not
religion, manners are not morals.
Nevertheless they are not to be dispa
ragged when they accompany these ex
cellent possessions - Gospel Age.
Says the Rev. DIR. A. +. owen
THE largest thing in this world is the
heart of converted man. Drop the
continent Of America into converted
heart and it will rattle. '--Richnsone
Religious Herald.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
Curious safety Deposit Vault.

Before Judge Stone. in the Common
Pleas Court, William Fulton is suing
for divorce from his second wife.
Rebecca. Fulton is 4 farmer Of In
dependent Township, and owns a finely
kept place worth $50, 900, with dairy
attachment. Three years ago he was
married to his present wife, and. barring
honeymoon of three months, he says
he has had to jump around lively ever
since. Mrs. Fulton has responded to
Fulton's suit with cross petition, but
this was dismissed, and she is now
contending for alimony. Her attorney
questioned the husband, and the fol-
lowing interesting ..bull' story was
brought out amid laughter:
Now" asked the lawyer, .didn't
YOU keep ferocious bull to
scare your wife with?'
Il kept bull" responded Full
ton, ..but had to. Icould not sell him
he was cross, but | never thought Of
using him to scare my wife,
What did you keep him for?'
well. l used him as sort of
bank-or, rather, made him guardian
of my private papers. Nothing was
safe about the house and ! couldn' I
keep thing from my wife. All my
personal papers tied up and put them
in the bulls manger, little ways
above his head. They were pretty
secure there. as it wasn't safe for any
one on the farm, except myself. to 60
near the animal. Mrs. Fulton
threatened continually to burn the
house, and l insured it, being determined
to save myself from loss. The in
surance papers were taken care of by
the bull in the same manner. He was
pretty handy bull. "-Clereland
Letter in the Chicago Inter Ocean.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
signs or COMING or srn1x0.

When country roads begin to thaw
In NOTED spots of damp and du0e
And fences by the margin draw
Along the frosiy crust
Their graphic silhoneftes. 4 eay.
The sprng Is coming round this wey.
When morning time IL bright with ee1,
And keen with wind. and both coa1uso
The dancing, glaEcing eyes Of ons
With tears that ooze and oo4o-
And nose-tips weep ~ well - they.
The spring Is coming round this wsy.
When suddenly some shadow-bisd
Goe. wayering beneath the gaze,
And through the hedge the moan - heard
III kline that cease 70 Craze
In grasses dead. smile and say.
The sprng 10 coming round this way.
When snotted horse-tals are united.
Ard ;eam-ters whistle here and there,
And clumsy mitts are iaid aside,
And choppers hands are bare.
And chips ere thick where children play.
The rpring 10 coming round this Wy.
When through the twigs the farmer frainpe.
And ;hreughs are ehunked beneath the trees.
And fragrant hints OF sugsr-campe
Astray in every breeze,
And early March seems middle-May,
The spring ID coming round this way.
When coughs are changed to laughs, and wher
Our frowns melt into smiles Of glee.
And all our blood thawe ont aSaiL
In streams Of ecstasy,
And poets wiet TX their roundelay,
The spring IL coming round this way.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
Had No Trouble with Thorn.

Jupkins Swell. Jack, you look
hearty, and I'm glad to see you safe
and sound. Those Western men are
lawless folk, hear.
Jupkins Jr. Gust from Montana)-I
never had any difficulty with them.
well. I'm sure I've heard that they
shoot man who refuses to drink with
them. Did they never ask you to drinkr'
"Um-yes."
''But they spared you on account Of
your YOUTH"
''Er-no. always drank. Buffalo
Courier
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
Jack Rabbits.

In Grant county, Ore, where the
bounty on jackrabbit scalps is Eve cents
each, some of the farmers stretch wire
screen across the prairie, the screen
hay ing meshes just large enough for q
rabbit to stick his head through. Then
men and dogs round up the rabbits,
and drive them toward the screen, and,
in their hurry to escape, the, tick their
heads through and are caught. Then
the farmers scalp the captives and lei
them 60. hoping that each will raise
another five cent scalp before long
This is the story told by the Grant
county NtW
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
He Was Caught Mapping

Wife-"What did you think of that
hat Miss Fussanfeather wore to church
this morning?"
Husband-"I didn't notice Miss
Fussanfeather's hat"
'.It's very funny you didn't see it.
She sat directly in front OF you.
well. suppose she did. Doyou sup
pose 60 to church to look at women 8
hats?''
well, my dear. it's the same hat
Miss Fussanfcather wore to the theatre
last night, and which you claimed OBJ
structed your view of the stage"
Husband concludes that he was
caught mapping lonkers Statesman.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03
He Knew the Language.

Mr.. Decentralization, yes, Minnie
is very accomplished. Why. she sings
in French, Italian and Spanish''
Mr.. De Smythe-"Yes. that is very
nice, but ! should think she would
learn some Of those pretty little English
songs that are 50 popular nowadays
Mr.. Doubledollar-..Why, that's an
English song she's singin' now
Mr.. De Smythe-'.Indeed! | thought
it was French, Italian and Spanish. -
life.
The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-03-03

II is reported from Maine that the
English sparrows are growing white,
IS result Of their becoming ac-
climated. White feathers have been
often noticed this winter on the
sparHowS